GB2290952A

GB2290952A - Handle assembly for pulling a wheeled suitcase

Info

Publication number: GB2290952A
Application number: GB9413537A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dick Ming Hsieh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-07-05
Filing date: 1994-07-05
Publication date: 1996-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 2014-07-05
Also published as: GB2290952B; GB9413537D0

Abstract

A handle assembly for pulling a wheeled suitcase includes a mounting seater (1) which is adapted to be mounted on the wheeled suitcase and which has a strap-receiving recess (123) formed therein, a pull strap member (14) which has one end portion connected to the mounting seater (1) and which is received in the strap-receiving recess (123), a pivotable handle member (2) which has one end connected pivotably to a peripheral edge portion of the mounting seater (1), and a cover member (15) which has one end connected pivotably to the mounting seater (1) to cover the strap-receiving recess (123). The cover member (15) has an opening (152) through which the pull strap member (14) can pass when in use. <IMAGE>

Description

HANDLE ASSEMBLY FOR PULLING A WHEELED SUITCASE This invention relates to a handle assembly, more particularly to a handle assembly for pulling a wheeled suitcase.

Presently, there are many types of handle assemblies which are available in the market for pulling wheeled suitcases. However, the handle assemblies permits the suitcase to be pulled in only a single manner.

Therefore, the main objective of the invention is to provide a handle assembly for pulling a wheeled suitcase, which handle assembly permits the suitcase to be pulled in more than one way.

According to the present invention, a handle assembly for pulling a wheeled suitcase includes a mounting seater which is adapted to be mounted on the wheeled suitcase and which has a strap-receiving recess formed therein, a pull strap member which has one end portion connected to the mounting seater and which is received in the strap-receiving recess, a pivotable handle member which has one end connected pivotably to a peripheral edge portion of the mounting seater, and a cover member which has one end connected pivotably to the mounting seater to cover the strap-receiving recess.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a schematic exploded view illustrating a handle assembly according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the handle assembly according to the present invention when mounted on a conventional wheeled suitcase; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the handle assembly according to the present invention when a pivotable handle member pivots away from a mounting seater; Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the handle assembly according to the present invention when operated in one of two manners; Fig. 5 is another perspective view of the handle assembly according to the present invention; and Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the handle assembly according to the present invention when operated in another manner.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a handle assembly for pulling a wheeled suitcase 3 in accordance with the present invention includes a mounting seater 1, a pull strap member 14, a pivotable handle member 2 and a cover member 15. The suitcase 3 has a bottom wall which is provided with a plurality of wheel members 31,32 (Fig. 6) and a vertical side wall which extends upwardly from the bottom wall.

The mounting seater 1 is adapted to be mounted on the vertical side wall of the suitcase 3. A horizontally extending plate 10 is formed at a lower end portion of the mounting seater 1. A generally inverted U-shaped strip member 12 is connected securely to the plate 10 at two ends thereof such that the strip member 12, the plate 10 and the seater 1 cooperatively define a strap-receiving recess 123 thereamong. The strip member 12 has an inner wall surface formed with an engaging projection 122. The mounting seater 1 has an elongated through-bore 121 formed therein. The through-bore 121 is communicated with the strapreceiving recess 123.A hook-mounting plate 13, which has a strap-connecting hook 131 mounted thereon, is located between the mounting seater 1 and the side wall of the suitcase 3 and is secured to the mounting seater 1 by means of locking bolts such that the strapconnecting hook 131 extends into the strap-receiving recess 123 via the through-bore 121. The mounting seater 1 further has a peripheral edge portion which is away from the horizontally extending plate 10 and which has a plurality of ribs 11 extending therefrom. The ribs 11 are formed with aligned through-holes 111. A stop plate 16 extends from the peripheral edge portion of the mounting seater 1 and is located above the ribs 11.

The pull strap member 14 has one end portion which is provided with a clasp 141 that engages the strapconnecting hook 131 in the strap-receiving recess 123.

The pivotable handle member 2 has one end which is formed with a plurality of engaging protrusions 21.

The protrusions 21 are formed with aligned throughholes 210. The handle member 2 is connected pivotably to the peripheral edge portion of the mounting seater 1 at one end thereof by means of a pivot pin 23 which extends through the through-holes 111 of the ribs 11 and the through-holes 210 of the protrusions 21. A biasing means 22 is provided between the handle member 2 and the mounting seater 1 so as to bias normally the handle member 2 toward the mounting seater 1. In the present embodiment, the biasing means 22 is a torsional spring which has a first arm fixed to the handle member 2 and a second arm fixed to the mounting seater 1. The handle member 2 has an aperture 24 formed therein.The aperture 24 permits the exposure of the plate 10 and the strip member 12 when the handle member 2 is at an unpulled position, wherein the handle member 2 is generally parallel to the side wall of the suitcase 3.

The cover member 15 has one end which is connected pivotably to a distal end of the horizontally extending plate 10 of the mounting seater 1 to cover the strapreceiving recess 123. The cover member 15 has an opening 152 formed in a peripheral edge portion thereof. The opening 152 permits the extension of the strap member 14 therethrough. A spring hook unit 151 is provided on the peripheral edge portion of the cover member 15. The spring hook unit 151, which cooperates with the engaging projection 122 of the strip member 12 so as to constitute a releasable locking unit, engages the engaging projection 122 so as to lock the cover member 15 in a covering position, wherein the cover member 15 covers the strap-receiving recess 123 to conceal the pull strap member 14 within the latter.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the handle member 2 pivots away from the mounting seater 1 when a pulling force is applied thereon. The stop plate 16 limits the pivoting movement of the handle member 2 away from the mounting seater 1. At this time, the suitcase 3 may be rolled along the ground through its wheels 31 by pulling at the handle member 2. It should be noted that the handle member 2 will be biased to pivot toward the mounting seater 1 and to the unpulled position immediately when the applied pulling force is removed.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the spring hook unit 151 may be activated to disengage the engaging projection 122 so as to release the cover member 15 from the covering position in order to permit extension of the strap member 14 through the strap-receiving recess 123 and the aperture 24 of the handle member 2. At this time, the suitcase 3 may be rolled along the ground through its wheels 31,32 by pulling at the strap member 14. It should be noted that since the opening 151 of the cover member 15 permits the strap member 14 to extend therethrough, the cover member 15 may be pivoted to cover the strap-receiving recess 123 even though the strap member 14 is in use. When the strap member 14 is not in use, the strap member 14 is concealed within the strap-receiving recess 123 so as to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the suitcase 3.

Claims

CLAINS:

1. A handle assembly for pulling a wheeled suitcase, said handle assembly comprising: a mounting seater being adapted to be mounted on said wheeled suitcase and having a strap-receiving recess formed therein; a pull strap member which has one end portion connected to said mounting seater and which is received in said strap-receiving recess; a pivotable handle member having one end connected pivotably to a peripheral edge portion of said mounting seater; and a cover member having one end connected pivotably to said mounting seater for covering said strap-receiving recess.

2. A handle assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said cover member has an opening which permits extension of said strap member therethrough.

3. A handle assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said peripheral edge portion of said mounting seater has a stop plate which extends therefrom to limit pivoting movement of said handle member away from said mounting seater.

4. A handle assembly as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising a strap-connecting hook disposed in said strap-receiving recess, said one end portion of said strap member being provided with a clasp which engages said strap-connecting hook in said recess.

5. A handle assembly as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising a biasing means for biasing said handle member toward said mounting seater.

6. A handle assembly as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising a releasable locking unit for locking said cover member releasably in a covering position, wherein said cover member covers said strap-receiving recess.

7. A handle assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A handle assembly for pulling a wheeled piece of luggage comprising a handle member movable between a retracted and an extended condition relative to a mounting portion of the assembly and a pull strap connected to the mounting portion.